Consulting firm Knight Frank has appointed a new leader for its building consultancy in Scotland as the firm looks to grow in the region. Arriving from Canada-headquartered global commercial real estate services firm Colliers, Richard Whitfield will work from Knight Frank’s Edinburgh office.
2018 has been a challenging year for the construction sector. Following the collapse of outsourcing firm Carillion at the start of the year, a number of firms have since teetered on the brink of administration, while the sector as a whole looks to the professional services industry for support in avoiding a similar fate.
In response to mounting demand, and the changing needs of clients in the sector, consulting firm Knight Frank has appointed a new head of its building consulting wing in Scotland. Richard Whitfield will be based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, having joined from Colliers, where he led the surveying team for more than 10 years. In total, Whitfield has over 20 years of experience in consulting, having worked on instructions for the public and private sectors dealing with all aspects of construction and due diligence.
In a bid to drive growth in the region, Whitfield will lead a team of surveyors in three offices across Scotland and will aim to expand the building surveying and project management offering. In line with the rest of the UK, Scotland’s construction sector has seen a number of notable administrations in 2018, pushing many more firms toward seeking external expertise to boost their performance in coming months, or to restructure debts.
Commenting on his appointment, Whitfield said, “An effective building consultancy and surveying team allows us to offer a fully integrated service to current and prospect clients, enabling us to advise on all aspects of commercial property requirements, from initial surveying, through to refurbishments and an eventual exit strategy. I look forward to supporting growth within the team across the region in line with the firm’s national strategy.”
Charles Ingram Evans, Knight Frank’s head of UK Building Consultancy and Project Management, added, “Richard has a thorough understanding of the commercial property landscape across Scotland and the UK and is highly regarded both by his peers and clients. He will be a huge asset to the team and we are delighted to have him on board.”
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